MONTPELIER – Fending off efforts by some to raise the minimum wage higher and faster, the Senate voted 20-8 on Friday to stick with a four-year plan that the Economic Development Committee crafted that would raise the wage to $9.15 an hour next year and incrementally to $10.50 an hour by 2018.

The increase is less of an immediate jump than the version the House passed, but the Senate plan eventually reaches a higher level. The House voted to raise the wage to $10.10 starting in January. Gov. Peter Shumlin had proposed reaching $10.10 by 2017. For a bill to reach law, all three entities will have to come to an agreement.

Sen. Michael Sirotkin, D-Chittenden, who tried unsuccessfully to raise the wage to $9.25 in 2015 and reaching $10.90 by 2018, said whatever plan the Senate passes will likely become law, as there is little time for negotiations with the Legislature adjourning next week.

No senators opposed raising the wage from the current $8.73 an hour, but they debated how much employers could handle how quickly.

Those who wanted a higher wage said too many national retailers are making large profits while paying low wages that force workers to be subsidized by social services programs funded by taxpayers.